Ireneusz Lukaszewski, born in 1938, graduated from conservatories
in Gdansk and Poznan and became a music director, chorus-founder
and teacher in his native country before emigrating to Buffalo,
USA in 1983 where he still lives. He maintains lecturing and
conducting roles and has performed with choirs worldwide.

The choral works here were composed between 1978 and 2011, either
in Gdansk or in Buffalo. Stylistically the music doesn’t range
vastly, but there are certain central concerns, indeed preoccupations.
One is traditional or folk music of various countries, predominantly
Poland and the Ukraine. It’s the latter that infuses Aniol
though here it’s Ukrainian Orthodox music that is most prominent
in this rather beautiful setting. Something else that imbues
Lukaszewski’s music with individuality is his absorption of
Gospel or Spiritual hues. Though they are more explicit elsewhere,
one can also hear them in the setting of Tuttoč
compiuto which is not inappropriate in this cry from the
Cross. When he takes a spiritual like Come here, Lord!
his setting is quite reserved, measured and tempered.

Przed noca wieczna niech twój glos uslysze is a setting
for his late parents and is warmly expressive whereas the longest
track Wykolysalem cie wsród fal is an elaboration of
a song of his father, Leon, and it proves a lulling, delicate
piece of work. Two of the set texts are by the composer and
draw from him some engaging lines. The traditional texts seem
to encourage him to write defter moving and quicker settings

In Spotkanie z Chopinem he takes themes from Chopin
and treats them with engaging vocal lightness. When he takes
Paderewski’s famous piano Melodie, similarly he arranges
it for voices with affection in a kind of Polish vocalise. Tu
es Petrus is a hymn setting and Pierwsza Brygada
(First Brigade) a well known tune, stirringly arranged and sung.
The choral singing is first class, from top to bottom, and the
church recording has been sensitively handled.

Ireneusz Lukaszewski is elder brother of Jan Lukaszewski

Jonathan Woolf

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